Henrik Ostergaard, lead singer for Pennsylvania-based rockers DIRTY LOOKS, passed away this morning, Thursday, January 27th, 2011 at 9:18 AM. The cause of death at this time is unknown and the results of an autopsy are pending.

David Shaw of STREETLIGHT CIRCUS has posted the following message:

"David Shaw here, remembering the great Henrik Ostergaard.

I got turned on to Dirty Looks immediately after the release of Cool From The Wire and soon I became virtually obsessed with that album. Very quickly Dirty Looks became one of my favorite bands of the entire 80s hard rock era. I preferred them to critical darlings and multi-platinum artists like GUNS N' ROSES and POISON and MÖTLEY CRÜE. No one wrote cooler, more rockin' tunes than Henrik and the boys. And Henrik's gruff yet melodic vocals, Paul Lidel's incredible guitar work and the tight rhythm section of Gene Barnett and Jack Pyers (not to mention Jack's awesome stage presence) put them heads and tails above almost everyone else for me.

Luckily, being an east coast guy, I was fortunate to see Dirty Looks live many times. And being a local rock writer, I got to meet Henrik and the boys on numerous occasions, eventually forging a friendship with Henrik that lasted through the mid-90s until we eventually lost touch. I know Henrik had a reputation among some musicians he played with as being a tough nut to crack (perhaps that's putting it mildly) but I always found him warm, friendly, accommodating and funny. I was thrilled to see his resurgence in recent years. it was great to see him writing and recording under the Dirty Looks moniker again.

Hearing of his death today saddens me deeply. I admired him and Dirty Looks greatly and he was an influence on my songwriting and continues to be today. There were rumors that Dirty Looks was going to make an appearance at this May's M3 festival but alas, it was not to be. I know Dirty Looks may not have been the most popular band from the 80s and early 90s rock scene those that were fans were always keenly aware that they knew a secret that the rest of the world didn't know. They knew what an awesome band Dirty Looks was and what a talented individual Henrik was.

He will be sorely missed by me and the thousands of fans who continue to spin Cool From The Wire, Turn Of The Screw, Bootlegs, Five Easy Pieces and their may other albums.

R.I.P. Henrik - enjoy a Blue Tequila in heaven!"